4Cs Clnics Seeking New Name Suggestions from Public
For Immediate Release
December 17, 2010
Galveston County and Cities – There are big changes in store for the Galveston County Health District’s County Coordinated Community Clinics (4Cs) in Texas City and Galveston. Already this year staff has been implementing a new electronic practice management system which will be a big change over previous operations. Other big changes will come later in 2011 when electronic medical and dental records will be implemented and when the Texas City clinic will relocate into a new county facility, the Mid-County Annex, currently under construction.
Given the changes, the 4Cs Governing Board, decided now is the time to do something they have wanted to do for several years, change the name of the clinics to more accurately reflect the purpose of the clinics. The Board is an 11 member policy-making board which oversees the 4C’s clinics. Over 50% of its members obtain services in the clinics.
Board members understand that the clinics provide a valuable and needed primary care service to a large number of Galveston County residents, uninsured and insured with clinic services available to any resident of the county. The Board members also realize there are some public perceptions of the clinics that are less than favorable involving its quality of care, long lines, and customer service.
In reality, the clinics provide a high quality of care for a large number of residents, serving more than 17,000 patients annually. Productivity and cost of care in the 4Cs clinics is better than state and national averages, and with a new facility in Texas City these should get even better. The new clinic is being designed to be much more efficient with exam rooms close to nurse’s stations, better security and many other features.
In these very challenging times for healthcare and the economy, when there is a growing number of uninsured patients and patients with chronic diseases seeking primary care in emergency rooms, federally-qualified health centers across the nation, like the 4C’s Clinic, provide a great service in helping to reduce emergency room visits and costly hospitalizations. For the past seven years the 4C’s board and executive staff have been working to raise awareness of and improve the community’s perception of its primary care clinics and the valuable service they provide for all county residents. Milton Howard, DDS, Chairperson of the 4Cs Governing Board, sums up the name change by saying, “We hope by changing the name it will more accurately reflect the quality medical care we provide in the clinics, and assist us by creating a more positive image.”
Dr. Mark Guidry, 4C’s CEO, says, “The Governing Board invites the participation of the public in determining its new name. This is a publically-funded community health clinic and it’s important that the public has a voice in its future.”
Anyone can participate by suggesting a clinic name. The 4C’s Governing board will review submissions during its January 27th board meeting. The board intends to formally recognize the individual who submits the name it selects. Name ideas may be submitted by email to newclinicname@gchd.org or by calling (409) 938-2211. The deadline for submitting possible name is Friday, January 21st.
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(News Media: For more information contact Kurt Koopmann, GCHD Public Information Officer, 409-938-2211 or kkoopman@gchd.org)
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